Women’s Tennis Hosts Portland And Gonzaga In Conference Home Opener

Giannina Ong, Delaney Nothaft doubles
Giannina Ong, Delaney Nothaft doubles
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's tennis (6-6, 1-1 WCC) welcomes West Coast Conference foes Portland and Gonzaga this week to Degheri Tennis Center for the Dick's Sporting Goods conference home opener.  The first serve for Friday's match is at Noon PT.  The start time for Saturday's match was changed from Noon to 10 a.m. PT.  
 
"It's a big weekend.  We lost to both Portland and Gonzaga last season on the road.  Obviously, we would much rather play them at home," said Broncos head coach Ben Cabell.  "The players had a couple of days off and they're going to feel refreshed coming back.  They will be fired up for this weekend's matches."  
 
Portland (4-9, 0-2 WCC) is on a two match losing streak, falling to Arizona and WCC's San Diego, both by a 4-3 score.  Last season, the Pilots and the Broncos had the same overall (8-12) and conference (3-6) records but Portland finished ahead in the standings having beaten the Broncos head to head.  
 
Gonzaga (11-4, 1-0 WCC) is coming off a 4-0 sweep over San Diego and will play at San Francisco prior to Saturday's match with the Broncos.  The Zags feature the 42nd-ranked doubles team in the nation with Sophie Whittle and Graciela Rosas.  
 
The Broncos' No. 1 doubles tandem of Madison Clarke and Maddie Pothoff will likely match up with Whittle and Rosas.  Clarke and Pothoff are 5-1 on the year, winning its first five matches before losing to Saint Mary's last weekend.  
 
Freshmen Katya Tabachnik and Elvena Gevargiz have been solid holding down the second position in doubles with a 5-3 record.  
 
In singles, Maddie Pothoff has won nine consecutive matches, majority of them coming at the second position.  Clarke is 6-4 at No. 1 and Zeina El Tawil is 7-2 playing mostly at No. 3.
 
During the weekend, campus parking facilities are free (except for permit required locations). Click here for a campus map and parking restrictions.
 
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